March 14, 2010

we* say good-bye to Finn

Jenna came by this morning to get Finn. We had an incredible wind storm last night and I was up literally the entire night worrying about the Alpacas and Finn. They weren't using the shelter and there were lots of branches coming down so I just kept looking out there and checking them. I overslept this morning and got downstairs just in time to watch Jenna and Finn pull out of the driveway. Greg and the kids got to say their good-byes.

I have to say that I wish Finn's stay here ended differently. Just about four months ago, when he first came to stay, we imagined the glorious day that we either brought him to the new Cold Antler Farm or Jenna came to get him herself to bring him to his real home. All through the winter Finn was happily hunkered down with Indy and Hayden (the alpacas). But, the last two weeks were bad. Really bad. Every since the snow started melting (and because he's a goat) he just wouldn't stay put with the Alpacas and had gotten into the terrible habit of literally knocking down every fence we have. He took down the chicken run, somehow managed to squeeze himself through the chicken door and had been eating all of the (organic) grain in the hopper. Greg and I had been wondering why, all of a sudden, it was going so fast. You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it with your own eyes but somehow a goat can fit through our little hatch! Because the fences were down, the chickens were everywhere. People coming to pick up their eggs had to walk through a mass of hungry chickens and a few times people stopped to ask if we knew that there was a goat running around the front yard. We tried our very best to contain him but aside from completely changing our fences or putting up some electric fence, which isn't a possibility for us right now, we just couldn't keep him here.

But, despite all that aggravation, the whole time I was really just worried about something happening to Finn. Of course, all the while, Jenna was aware of what was happening. And in the end we had to say goodbye to sweet little Finn as he makes one more stop before he gets to go back home with Jenna.

The lessons we learned about living with goats while he was here are invaluable. The time we had with him was pure joy. That Jenna is one lucky gal. He had become part of our family while he was here, part of our rhythm. Each day I'd walk him down to get the mail on his lead to maintain the training Jenna had done with him and then we'd go walk around the property collecting downed branches for an afternoon treat. His sweet smiling face is enough to warm your heart on the dreariest of winter days.

But I know there are good things for him in the future! A new home with his real mama and maybe even some more kids?!

Comments

we* say good-bye to Finn

Jenna came by this morning to get Finn. We had an incredible wind storm last night and I was up literally the entire night worrying about the Alpacas and Finn. They weren't using the shelter and there were lots of branches coming down so I just kept looking out there and checking them. I overslept this morning and got downstairs just in time to watch Jenna and Finn pull out of the driveway. Greg and the kids got to say their good-byes.

I have to say that I wish Finn's stay here ended differently. Just about four months ago, when he first came to stay, we imagined the glorious day that we either brought him to the new Cold Antler Farm or Jenna came to get him herself to bring him to his real home. All through the winter Finn was happily hunkered down with Indy and Hayden (the alpacas). But, the last two weeks were bad. Really bad. Every since the snow started melting (and because he's a goat) he just wouldn't stay put with the Alpacas and had gotten into the terrible habit of literally knocking down every fence we have. He took down the chicken run, somehow managed to squeeze himself through the chicken door and had been eating all of the (organic) grain in the hopper. Greg and I had been wondering why, all of a sudden, it was going so fast. You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it with your own eyes but somehow a goat can fit through our little hatch! Because the fences were down, the chickens were everywhere. People coming to pick up their eggs had to walk through a mass of hungry chickens and a few times people stopped to ask if we knew that there was a goat running around the front yard. We tried our very best to contain him but aside from completely changing our fences or putting up some electric fence, which isn't a possibility for us right now, we just couldn't keep him here.

But, despite all that aggravation, the whole time I was really just worried about something happening to Finn. Of course, all the while, Jenna was aware of what was happening. And in the end we had to say goodbye to sweet little Finn as he makes one more stop before he gets to go back home with Jenna.

The lessons we learned about living with goats while he was here are invaluable. The time we had with him was pure joy. That Jenna is one lucky gal. He had become part of our family while he was here, part of our rhythm. Each day I'd walk him down to get the mail on his lead to maintain the training Jenna had done with him and then we'd go walk around the property collecting downed branches for an afternoon treat. His sweet smiling face is enough to warm your heart on the dreariest of winter days.

But I know there are good things for him in the future! A new home with his real mama and maybe even some more kids?!